Why are these ninjas following orders of humans?

[CapsuleCorpJX]

Seriously. A single jounin can destroy an entire batallion of normal human soldiers. A kage or sannin can destroy an entire army.

The Daimyo or Shogun is really powerless compared to the villages. I'm surprised these ninja are taking orders from such weaklings.

[jing]

They get paid, they are happy.

[Yukimura]

Also, why would ninja's want to rule a country? Only rogue ninja's like Zabuza or Orochimaru or Akatsuki have crazy weird plans to take over the universe, most ninja are very loyal to their village as it was hammered into their heads that part of being a ninja is protecting your village and your country.

[bagandscalpel]

It may just be as simple as: "So you can kill dozens in the time it takes to blink, and you can command a group, or even a village. But can you control a whole country?"

[mage]

Ninjas are the military power of the Naruto world. Would a real military say "fuck you, Mr. President, you're a weakling" and not do what he says?

[Death BOO Z]

Mage: yes.

Generals always push for war, that's why you don't allow them to make any real descions.
when the army is strong enough, it takes over the country and sends it off to stupid wars.

In the real world, one person power is counted by the number of people behined him (and what they posses), so the goverment usually keeps the army in check, at least until a military revolution breaks out.

but in Naruto's world, there's just no real explannation to that, just as there is no real explannation to the ninja teaching system.

[Honoko]

I wonder whether or not it'd be even good to include each nation's actual leaders into the naruto storyline. Naruto dealing with international politics? I'd imagine that would be painful to watch.

[ChaosK]

A ninja might be able to take over the country using sheer force, but that would leave the other ninjas to also go for the head, in the end, it leaves one person standing rule over nothing.

On a side note: HEY IT'S DBZ!

[Assertn]

but in Naruto's world, there's just no real explannation to that, just as there is no real explannation to the ninja teaching system.
Does the sand's alliance with the sound village ring a bell?

[Stoopider]

Hmmm. Naruto..

A story of politics and socioeconomic responsibilities.

[joekinplaya]

Here's an analogy. USA can destroy China or vice versa, whoever strikes first has more chance of destroying the other. However, if the two of them get in a conflict, their economy will die and the country loses more than 80% of its power as countries like USA and China's powers depend on economy. The ninjas need the money and offers from other places. Also, Konoha is only a small village in a FIRE COUNTRY. I doubt that little village is the whole land of the Fire. Konoha might just be a barrack training place for the military of the Fire country in some way.
Just think the ninjas as the military of their country or mercenaries.